BatFlattery

The FT has ended months of speculation with confirmation that at least O2 will be selling iPhone in the UK this autumn. Official announcements are expected at the end of the month. More on my UK iPhone blog.

The rumours are starting to get persistent, and now there’s some circumstantial evidence as well: O2 and Carphone Warehouse seem to be the two that the smart money are on for iPhone in the UK. More on my UK iPhone blog.

I’ve just created a new site to track news about the iPhone’s release in the UK. With all the rumours flying around about which network has the contract, and when the launch will be, my aim is to create a dedicated resource for carrying the latest news, speculation and analysis. (If 02 is the winner, why hasn’t anything been announced? It could be that Steve wants to do a Europe launch, announcing the launch date and all of the European partners together. Some sources are talking about a September launch, which would fit with Steve’s record of under-promising and over-delivering on launch dates.)

Take a look at this genius: he thinks that Apple will miss the European launch because they have “consistently missed product launches”. Also, “They are only making ten million iPhones”, so when those run out, Europe will be out of luck.

Wow.

Apple have never missed a product launch. Products are normally in stores the day Steve announces them. The iPhone was an exception because of the FCC regulation. So there is no track record of missed launches.

Apple have not said they will only make 10 million iPhones. They have said that 10 million units is their target. I am fairly confident that once they sell those, they will be making some more. In fact, I daresay they will ramp up manufacturing if they see that iPhones are selling out more quickly than expected. This is because they are not morons.

For the record, I love the iPhone, am counting the days until I can
get one, and believe it will be an enormous success.

That is all.